Folding table and bench structure



May 15, 1962 c. M. MUGLER FOLDING TABLE AND BENCH STRUCTURE 3 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1959 MN xx R 5 Q T PL kw $1 N w \Q T Q J TM -m ww! wm QNJ QM T 2| /N new 70,? CHARLES M MUGL 5/? B Ms 47702/1/675 HAee/s, K/s'ch', R0555 & KER/V y 5, 1962 c. M. MUGLER I 3,034,842

FOLDING TABLE AND BENCH STRUCTURE Filed May 25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VEA/rae CHARLES M, MUGLER y 1962 c. M. MUGLER 3,034,842

FOLDING TABLE AND BENCH STRUCTURE Filed May 25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 6. 9 .9.

FIG. 6.

M/I/EA/TOR GI /A2455 M MUGL 5e er HA5 ATTOZA/E/S #4212457, MECH, R0555 8v K52 United States Patent 3,034,842 FOLDING TABLE AND BENCH STRUCTURE Charles M. Mugler, North Hollywood, Calif. Rel-Fol Table, Inc., 14876 Raymer, Van Nuys, Calif.) Filed May 25, 1959, Ser. No. 815,416 1 Claim. (Cl. 311-92) The present invention relates in general to a folding table and bench structure and, more particularly, to a folding structure which includes a folding table of two or more sections and a folding bench of a like number of sections on either or both sides of the folding table, 'a general object of the invention being to provide a folding structure of this character which is capable of accommodating a large number of children, or adults, when unfolded, and which is capable of being folded into a compact unit for storage, movement from one location to another, and the like.

In some respects, the folding table and bench structure of the present invention is an improvement on that disclosed in my patent application Serial No. 725,258, filed March 31, 1958.

In general, the invention contemplates a folding table and bench structure which includes: an inner supporting structure or chassis, which may be provided with casters for mobility; an inner table top member having inner and outer ends and adapted to swing relative to the inner supporting structure between a generally horizontal, operative position wherein its inner and outer ends are on the same general level and a generally vertical, inoperative position wherein its outer end is above its inner end; an intermediate table leg structure pivotally connected to the outer end of the inner table top member; an inner table link member having an inner end pivotally connected to the inner supporting structure and having an outer end pivotally connected to the intermediate table leg structure, such inner table link member being located below the inner table top member when the latter is in its operative position; an outer table top member having inner and outer ends and pivotally connected to the intermediate table leg structure at its inner end, the outer table top member being pivotable relative to the inner table top member between a generally horizontal, operative position wherein its inner and outer ends are on the same general level and a generally vertical, inoperative position wherein its inner end is above its outer end; an outer table leg structure pivotally connected to the outer end of the outer table top member; and an outer table link member having an inner end pivotally connected to the intermediate table leg structure and having an outer end pivotally connected to the outer table leg structure, the outer table link member being located below the outer table top member when the latter is in its operative position. The foregoing elements may be duplicated on the opposite side of the inner supporting structure or chassis to provide a folding table structure having four sections, whereupon the inner supporting structure becomes a central supporting structure betwen the two pairs of table top members. The folding table and bench structure of the invention also includes a two-section folding bench on each side of each two-section folding table, each such two-section folding bench including: an inner bench top member having inner and outer ends and swingable relative to the inner supporting structure between a generally horizontal, operative position wherein its inner and outer ends are on the same general level and a generally vertical, inoperative position wherein its outer end is above its inner end; an intermediate bench leg structure pivotally connected to the outer end of the inner bench top member; an inner bench link member having an inner end pivotally connected to the inner supporting structure and having an outer end pivotally connected to the inter- "ice mediate bench leg structure, the inner bench link member being located below the inner bench top member when the inner bench top member is in its operative position; an outer bench top member having inner and outer ends and pivotally connected to the intermediate bench leg structure at its inner end, the outer bench top member being pivotable relative to the inner bench top member between a generally horizontal, operative position wherein itsinner and outer ends are on the same general level and a generally vertical, inoperative position wherein its inner end is above its outer end; an outer bench leg structure pivotally connected to the outer end of the outer bench top member; and an outer bench link member having an inner end pivotally connected to the intermediate bench leg structure and having an outer end pivotally connected to the outer bench leg structure, such outer bench link member being located below the outer bench top member when the latter is in its operative position. From the foregoing, it will be seen that each pair of inner and outer table top members and each pair of inner and outer bench top members is foldable and unfoldable independently of the others, which is in contrast to the structure of the aforementioned patent application, wherein each pair of inner and outer table tops and the corresponding pairs of inner and outer bench tops are foldable and unfoldable in" unison.

In the construction of the aforementioned patent appli-t cation, the inner table and bench tops are simply pivoted adjacent their inner ends to the inner or central supporting structure. An important object of the present invention is to provide a structure wherein the inner table and bench top members are slidable relative to the inner or central supporting structure as they move between their operative and inoperative positions. With this construction, the inner top members may slide inwardly and downwardly relative to the inner supporting structure as they swing from their operative positions into their inoperative positions, thereby reducing the over-all height of the structure when folded, which is an important feature.

Another object is to provide on the inner supporting structure inner supporting means slidably engaged by the inner top members adjacent their inner ends, such inner supporting means preferably comprising rollers on which the inner top members slide relative to the inner sup porting structure to minimize friction.

Another object is to provide guide means interconnecting the inner supporting structure and the various inner top members for guiding the inner ends of the inner top members along fixed paths in response to sliding movement of the inner top members relative to the inner supporting structure between their operative and inoperative positions.

A further object is to provide a folding structure wherein the inner end of each inner top member has pivotally connected thereto one end of a link element, the other end of such link element being pivotally connected to the inner supporting structure below the inner supporting means for the inner top member in question and above the corresponding inner link member. The result is that each inner top member is provided with a five-sided linkage which cooperates with the corresponding inner supporting means in such a manner as to maintain the corresponding intermediate leg structure at the outer end of such inner top member substantially vertical as such inner top member is moved between its operative and inoperative positions, the five sides of the linkage mentioned being formed by the inner supporting structure, the inner top member in question, the corresponding intermediate leg structure, the corresponding inner link member, and the corresponding link element.

In order that each five-sided linkage mentioned will maintain the corresponding intermediate leg structure corresponding substantially vertical, the corresponding inner link member must slope upwardly from its inner end to its outer end, and the provision of such sloping inner link members is an important feature of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding structure wherein the outer end of each inner top member and the inner end of the corresponding outer top member are seated directly on the corresponding intermediate leg structure when these top members are in their operative positions, whereby loads are transmitted directly to the intermediate leg structure instead of through the corresponding pivots.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the folding table and bench art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a folding table and bench structure embodying the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional and side elevational views, respectively, taken along the arrowed lines 22 and 33, respectively, of FIG. 1, and showing a folding table and a folding bench, respectively, of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view duplicating a portion of FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale and showing the folding table of FIG. 2 in partially folded condition;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view duplicating a portion of FIG. 3 and showing the folding bench of FIG. 3 in partially folded condition;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the arrowed line 88 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the arrowed line 99 of FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10 and '11 are enlarged, fragmentary isometric views of pivotal connections of the invention.

Referring primarily to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings for the present, the folding table and bench structure of the invention is designated generally by the numeral and includes: a central or inner supporting structure or chassis 22; inner table tops or top members 24 having inner and outer ends and slidably connected adjacent their inner ends to the chassis 22; intermediate table leg structures 26 pivotally connected to the inner table tops 24 at the outer ends of the latter; outer table tops or top members 28 having inner and outer ends and pivotally connected at their inner end to the intermediate table leg structures 26; outer table leg structures 30 pivotally connected to the outer table tops 28 at the outer ends of the latter; inner bench tops or top members 32 on opposite sides of and below and spaced laterally from the inner table tops 24 in parallel relation thereto, the inner bench tops having inner and outer ends and being slidably connected adjacent their inner ends to the chassis 22; intermediate bench leg structures 33 pivotally connected to the outer ends of the inner bench tops 32; outer bench tops or top members 34 respectively disposed on opposite sides of and below and spaced laterally from the outer table tops 28 in parallel relation thereto, the outer bench tops 34 having inner and outer ends and being pivotally connected at their inner ends to the intermediate bench leg structures 33; and outer bench leg structures 35 pivotally connected to the outer ends of the outer bench tops 34. In use, the inner and outer table tops 24 and 28 are disposed in coplanar, generally horizontal extended or operative positions in end-to-end relation, the inner and outer bench tops 32 and 34 on either side of the table tops also being disposed in coplanar, generally horizontal, extended or operative positions in end-to-end relation. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the inner table tops 24 and the inner bench tops 32 swing upwardly into generally vertical, folded, retracted or inoperative positions, and the outer table tops 28 and the outer bench tops 34 are pivotable downwardly relative to the'inner table tops and the inner bench tops into generally vertical, folded, retracted or inoperative positions.

The chassis 22 provides central or inner supporting means 36 and 38 which are slidably engaged by the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32, respectively, and on which the inner table and bench tops are slidable as they rock or swing between their operative and inoperative positions. As the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32 move between their operative and inoperative positions, the inner ends thereof are guided along fixed, arcuate paths by guide means comprising link elements 40 and 42, the link elements 4 having ends pivotally connected to the inner ends of the inner table tops 24 and having opposite ends pivotally connected to the chassis 22 below the supporting means 36, and the link elements 42 having ends pivotally connected to the inner ends of the inner bench tops 32 and having opposite ends pivotally connected to the chassis 22 below the supporting means 38. It will be apparent that as the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32 rock or swing upwardly from their operative positions into their inoperative positions, the inner ends thereof slide inwardly and downwardly on the supporting means 36 and 38, being guided by the link elements 4t) and 42. The fact that the inner ends of the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32 move downwardly as these members are moved into their inoperative positions means that the over-all height of the folding structure 20 is materially reduced upon folding thereof, as compared to a folding structure wherein the corresponding table and bench tops are merely directly pivotally connected to the chassis, which is an important feature of the invention.

The chassis 22 is connected to the intermediate table and bench leg structures 26 and 33 by inner table and bench link members 44 and 46, respectively, which are disposed below the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32, respectively, when the latter are in their operative positions. The inner table and bench link members 44 and 46 have inner ends pivotally connected to the chassis 22 and have outer ends respectively pivotally connected to the intermediate table and bench leg structures 26 and 33. The inner table and bench link members 44 and 46 slope downwardly from their outer ends to their inner ends when the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32 are in their operative positions, the angles that the link members 44 and 46 make with the horizontal under these conditions being such as to maintain the intermediate table and bench leg structures 26 and 33 substantially vertical as the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32 are moved between their operative and inoperative positions. In effect, the invention provides each inner table top 24 and each inner bench top 32 with a five-sided linkage which maintains a parallel relation between the chassis 22 and the corresponding intermediate leg structure 26 or 33. As an example, the five-sided parallel-motion linkage associated with one of the inner table tops 24 includes such table top, the corresponding link element 40, the chassis 22, the corresponding inner table link memher 44, and the corresponding intermediate table leg structure 26. The five-sided parallel-motion linkage for each inner bench top 32 includes the analogous components associated therewith so that a full recitation is not necessary.

The intermediate table and bench leg structures 26 and 33 are connected to the outer table and bench leg structures 30 and 35, respectively, by outer table and bench link members 48 and 50, respectively, the outer table and bench link members 48 and 50 being disposed beneath the outer table and bench tops 28 and 34, respectively, when these top members are in their operative positions. The outer table and bench link members 48 and 56 have inner ends pivotally connected to the intermediate table and bench leg structures 26 and 33, respectively, and have outer ends pivotally connected to the outer table and bench leg structures 38 and 35, respec-- tively. As will be apparent, each of the outer table and bench tops 28 and 34 has associated therewith a foursided linkage which controls the motion of the corresponding outer leg structure. For example, the foursided linkage associated with each outer table top 28 includes such table top, the corresponding intermediate table leg structure 26, the corresponding outer table leg structure 30 and the corresponding outer table link member 48.

Preferably, the outer table leg structures 30 are maintained substantially vertical at all times and, to achieve this, the outer table link members 48 are substantially parallel to the outer table tops 28. Actually, the outer table link members 48 slope downwardly slightly from their outer ends to their inner ends when the folding structure 20 is in its operative position, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, so that they are not quite parallel to the outer table tops 28. The reason for this slope is that the points of pivotal connection of the outer table tops 28 and the outer table link members 48 to the intermediate and outer table leg structures 26 and 30 are not in common vertical planes, so that the outer table leg structures 30 would not be maintained parallel to the inner table leg structures 26 if the outer table link members 48 were exactly parallel to the outer table tops 28.

The outer bench link members 50* slope downwardly from their inner ends to their outer ends in order to pull the lower ends of the outer bench leg structures 35 inwardly, as shown in FIG. 7, as the benches of the folding structure 20 are folded. However, the link members 58 may be so arranged as to cause the outer bench leg structures 35 to remain vertical and parallel to the intermediate bench leg structures 33.

The foregoing completes a general discussion of the folding structure 20 of the invention. Various details thereof will now be considered.

The chassis 22 includes two transversely spaced rails 52 parallel to the operative positions of the table and bench tops 24, 28, 32 and 34. Corresponding ends of the rails 52 are mounted on wheels 54 and the opposite ends thereof are mounted on casters 56. With this construction, the folding structure 20 may readily be maneuvered from one location to another when folded. Also, this arrangement of wheels 54 and casters 56 provides adequate stability when the structure 28 is unfolded.

The chassis 22 includes two lower transverse frame members 58 each of which interconnects the rails 52 and each of which has a set of two table columns 60 and two sets of two bench columns 62 secured thereto, the sets of bench columns being on opposite sides of the set of table columns. Above each lower transverse frame member 58 is an upper transverse frame member 64 which interconnects the corresponding table columns 60 and bench columns 62.

The table and bench supporting means 36 and 38 on which the inner table and bench tops 24 and 82 are slidable adjacent their inner ends are mounted on the upper ends of the table and bench columns 60 and 62. The table and bench supporting means 36 and 38 comprise inwardly offset rollers 66 and 68, respectively, in the particular construction illustrated, the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32 having on the under sides thereof inverted channels 70 and 72, respectively, which contain and have secured thereto channel-shaped tracks 74 and 76, respectively, for the rollers 66 and 68, respectively. As will be apparent, this arrangement minimizes friction as the inner table and bench tops 24 and 32' slide relative to the chassis 22 adjacent their inner ends in moving between their operative and inoperative positions.

Each intermediate table leg structure 26 includes two transversely spaced intermediate table legs 78 having glides 80 at their lower ends and interconnected by a transverse frame member 82. The intermediate table legs 78 of each intermediate table leg structure 26 are provided adjacent their upper ends with sliding collars 84 which are pivotally connected to the corresponding inner and outer table tops 24 and 28 by links 86. This arrangement controls the folding and unfolding of adjacent inner and outer table tops 24 and 28 so that they will make equal angles with the corresponding intermediate table leg structure 26 at all times. The intermediate table legs 78 of each intermediate table leg structure 26 have secured to the upper ends thereof downwardly facing, channelshaped brackets 88 corresponding ends of which are disposed in and pivotally connected to the channels 78 of the corresponding inner table top 24 and the opposite ends of which are disposed in and pivotally connected to corresponding channels 90 forming parts of the adjacent outer table top 28. As best shown in FIG. 8, the upper corners of the brackets 88 are rounded so that the transverse walls of the channels 70 and 90 will rest directly on the brackets 88 when the folding structure 20 is unfolded, whereby the weights of the outer end of the corresponding inner table top 24 and the inner end of the corresponding outer table top 28 are transmitted directly to the corresponding intermediate table leg structure 26, instead of through the pivotal connections between the brackets 88 and the channels 70 and 90. These pivotal connections provide sufiicient clearances to insure seating of the table tops 24 and 28 on the brackets 88 when the structure 20 is unfolded, these clearances being exaggerated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The intermediate bench leg structures 33 are similar to the intermediate table leg structures 26 and have similar relationships with the inner and outer bench tops 32 and 34, except that there are no sliding collars and links corresponding to the sliding collars and links 84 and 86. Consequently, it is unnecessary to describe the intermediate bench leg structures 38 in detail.

Turning to the outer table leg structures 30, each includes two transversely spaced outer table legs 92 which are interconnected by a transverse frame member 94 and the upper ends of which extend into and are pivotally connected to the channels 90 of the corresponding outer table top 28. The outer table legs 92 are provided at their lower ends with rollers 96 on which the corresponding outer table leg structure 30 may roll in folding and unfolding the corresponding inner and outer table tops 24 and 28.

The outer bench leg structures 35 are similar to the outer table leg structures 30 so that they need not be described specifically.

The various inner and outer table and bench link members 44, 46, 48 and 58 are pivotally connected to the components to which they are anchored by disposing each end of each between two lugs and running a pivot pin therethrough. For example, FIG. 4 shows one of the inner bench link members 46 having an end thereof disposed between two lugs 98 secured to one of the rails 52 and pivotally connected thereto by a pin 180, the two lugs 98 being part of a U-shaped clip in this instance. FIG. 10 shows one of the inner table link members 44 disposed between two lug-s 102 on one of the transverse frame members 82 and connected thereto by a pin 184. FIG. 10 also shows one of the outer table link members 48 disposed between two lugs 106 on this same transverse frame member 82 and pivotally secured thereto by a pin 108. In this instance, one of the lugs 102 is integral with one of the lugs 106 so that this single component forms a part of both of the pivotal connections in question. FIG. 11 shows one of the inner table link members 44 disposed between two lugs 110 on one of the transverse frame members 64 and secured thereto by a pin 112. The use of two lugs for each of the foregoing pivotal connections provides a sturdy construction which cannot be attained, for example, with a single lug disposed in a slot in a tubular link member.

It is thought that the over-all operation of the invention will be clear from the foregoing description. Consequently, no further explanation thereof is necessary.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claim.

I claim:

In a folding structure of the character described, the combination of: a supporting structure having supporting means thereon; a top member having inner and outer ends and slidable on said supporting means adjacent but spaced from its inner end between an operative position wherein its inner and outer ends are on the same general level and an inoperative position wherein its outer end is above its inner end; a leg structure pivotally connected adjacent its upper end to said outer end of said top member; a link element pivotally connected at one end to said inner end of said top member and pivotally connected at its other end to said supporting structure below said supporting means; and means interconnecting said supporting structure and said leg structure for maintaining said leg structure substantially vertical as said top memher is moved between said operative and inoperative positions, comprising a link member having an inner end pivotally connected to said supporting structure below the point of pivotal connection of said link element to said supporting structure and having an outer end pivotally connected to said leg structure below the point of pivotal connection of said top member to said leg structure, said link member sloping upwardly from its inner end to its outer end when said top member is in its operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 417,108 Snyder Dec. 10, 1889 662,213 VVilrnot Nov. 20, 1900 1,652,100 Eastburn Dec. 6, 1927 1,716,327 Sevier June 4, 1929 1,834,792 Mastrangelo et al. Dec. 1, 1931 1,870,719 Fain Aug. 9, 1932 2,203,394 Schieber June 4, 1940 2,708,961 Mugler May 24, 1955 2,811,400 James Oct. 29, 1957 2,893,474 Bobbish July 7, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 180,571 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1936 

